17-20.
The score ended up being the momentum shift in multiple sets as the women’s volleyball team was able to take down Regis University (RU) in their final regular season match of the season.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) fought until the very end to get the win as the Rangers were not going to give up at any point to try to squeeze out a win.
“Our approach is that if we compete well we can compete with anybody. So I don’t think we felt like we had to change too much. We knew that number 13 was a really good hitter. We scouted them and some other kids stepped up for them as well. I think it was just a fun match,” Head Coach Dave Fleming said.
All four sets were very close as two of the sets went above the 25 point mark. The fourth set was a thriller as the Rangers and Mavericks took it to a 30-32 match.
“ I think they definitely played really well and they challenged us a lot. They made us have to really work for it and especially from the 25 to the 32 that was really fun for a lot of people just because it was back and forth. We were all making really good plays,” Redshirt junior outside hitter Holly Schmidt said.
The Mavericks went on a big run right in the middle of the fourth set right when they needed to. They were down 16-13 and then a kill by redshirt sophomore middle blocker Savannah Spitzer started the Mavericks comeback. Redshirt junior middle blocker Tye Wedhorn and freshman Sydney Leffler helped CMU regain a 17-16 lead.
Wedhorn was able to record 12 kills and five blocks with four of her blocks being assisted blocks.
The Mavericks closed out the fourth set to win the game with three straight points including another big attack from Leffler and Schmidt. An attack error on Halle Theis ended the game as the Mavericks bench stormed the court to celebrate.
It was a team win for the Mavericks as both the right side hitters and the outside hitters were able to throw RU’s defense off guard with both their hard attacks and soft touches over the net.
Right side hitters Redshirt freshman Gabby Vogt and redshirt sophomore Maranda Theleus were powerful from the right side. Vogt was able to get 12 balls to hit the hardwood. Theleus came in when she was called upon and made the most of her time on the court. She recorded four kills out of the 12 attack swings she took.
“ She [Theleus] played great, it was just “a timeout sub” is what I told Gabby when I subbed her out just kind of slowing the momentum. She got a couple of really big blocks for us and she can do that so we are pretty confident in her abilities,” Fleming said.
Both teams were able to make adjustments where needed based off of what they saw in previous plays or sets.
Four Mavericks recorded double digit kills with Leffler leading the team with 14 followed by Schmidt with 13. Redshirt freshman setter Sabrina VanDeList was able to mix up the tempo that she set her hitters at and recorded 57 assists on the night.
The Mavericks defense was as solid as it could have been as VanDeList led the Mavericks with 21 digs while playing bothin the front and back rows. Redshirt junior Kerstin Layman used her athletic abilities to record 19 digs for the Mavericks.
Redshirt freshman libero Libby Borgerding came in in multiple situations to serve where the set point was on the line and stepped up and created a good start for her team.
On the other side of the court, RU did not back down without creating a challenge for CMU.
Just like the Mavericks, the Rangers had four players record double digit kills. Halle Theis led her team with 16 while Caitlyn Burroway had 15. Burroway was able to help her team in the back row as well as she showed her versatility with having 15 digs as well.
Mara LeGrand led on the defensive front for the Rangers as she recorded a double-double with 56 assists and 24 digs.
As the Mavericks got a 3-1 victory Friday night, they also celebrated senior night as Schmidt took her last regular season start on the court.
Over the years, Schmidt has become a name for the Mavericks volleyball program. She was named to the second all RMAC team in the Spring 2021 season as well as to the All-Academic honor roll list. She has recorded 401 kills in 1,130 attempts as a Mavericks with only 202 errors.
The Mavericks season is not over yet as they will host a quarterfinal game for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament (RMAC) on November 16 at 7 p.m. in Brownson Arena.
The Mavericks opponent has yet to be determined. For more information about the RMAC tournament visit RMACsports.org.
great playing for mavericks and great coaching good luck in next game